Moncton, NB - September 22, 2026 – New observations from the New Brunswick Health Council (NBHC) show that the health and well-being of youth in New Brunswick vary according to their socioeconomic circumstances.
Results from the 2025–2026 New Brunswick Student Wellness and Education Survey show that youth from lower socioeconomic backgrounds report less favourable outcomes than the provincial average across a range of health and well-being indicators.
“These findings remind us that health is shaped by much more than individual choices,” said Stéphane Robichaud, CEO of the New Brunswick Health Council. “The social and economic circumstances in which young people grow up can have a significant impact on their health, well-being and ability to thrive. Understanding these differences is an important step toward improving health equity for New Brunswick’s youth.”
Key observations from the article include:
• Youth health and well-being remain a concern
• Youth experience realities that influence their health and well-being, often in unfavourable ways, but they also benefit from some protective factors
• Youth from low socioeconomic backgrounds face greater challenges that affect their physical and mental health
“These results show both the challenges young people face and the factors that can help protect their health,” added Robichaud. “School connectedness is one example of a protective factor that has consistently ranked highly in our findings over the past several years, highlighting the important role schools play in creating environments where young people feel supported, connected and that they belong. Continuing to understand what supports young people and where inequalities exist can help inform policies, programs and actions that respond to their needs.”
These results, along with all the other indicators from the 2025-2026 edition of the New Brunswick Student Wellness and Education Survey are accessible on our website.
Access the full article here: Health of New Brunswick's Youth: Important Inequalities Based on Socioeconomic Factors
For more information about the New Brunswick Health Council: www.nbhc.ca
For interview requests, please contact:
Nay O’Leary
Executive Director, Citizen Engagement
Phone: 506-377-7689
Email: Nay.OLeary@nbhc.ca
Interpretation notes:
Comparing percentages: We compare percentages using confidence intervals. Simply put, these show a range where the true value is likely to be. If the ranges for two percentages do not overlap, we consider the percentages to be meaningfully different, either higher or lower.
Comparing results to the provincial average: A result that is ‘better’ compared to the provincial average is not necessarily ‘good’, and the group may still be experiencing challenges.
Socioeconomic background: The NBHC used the Family Affluence Scale to identify youths’ socioeconomic background. The scale measures material wealth using six questions about the resources available to a youth and their family. Based on their responses, each youth receives a score. Youth in the lowest 20% of scores were classified as having a low socioeconomic status, while those in the highest 20% were classified as having a high socioeconomic status.